The Unified Protocol for Autistic Adults with Emotional Disorders
Adaptations for Neuro-affirming Care
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About this workshop
The Unified Protocol for Autistic Adults with Emotional Disorders: Adaptations for Neuro-affirming Care is a training designed to equip mental health professionals with practical strategies for adapting the Unified Protocol (UP) to better support autistic adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and other emotional disorders. While the UP is a well-established transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral treatment targeting emotion dysregulation, standard protocols often require thoughtful modification to align with neuro-affirming, strengths-based practice.
This workshop will provide an overview of the theoretical foundations of the Unified Protocol, including its emphasis on emotional awareness, cognitive flexibility, and avoidance and emotion-driven behaviors. Participants will examine how core UP modules—such as mindful emotion awareness, cognitive reappraisal, and exposure—can be adapted to account for differences in sensory processing, interoception, communication style, and social experiences commonly reported by autistic individuals.
Primary topics will include distinguishing emotional dysregulation from autistic traits, modifying exposure tasks to reduce masking and promote authenticity, incorporating visual supports and concrete language, and addressing co-occurring intolerance of uncertainty. The training will also emphasize neuro-affirming principles, including collaborative goal setting, respect for identity, and avoidance of deficit-based framing.
Through case examples and applied discussion, participants will develop skills in treatment planning, module adaptation, and culturally responsive implementation of the Unified Protocol within autism-affirming clinical practice.
Learning objectives
By the end of the session, clinicians will be able to…
Meet your instructors
At the Unified Protocol Institute, all of our trainers are practicing Unified Protocol therapists. Our team is backed by deep academic ties and brings decades of experience to the UPI’s educational programs. We are bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world impact, equipping therapists to enhance their skillset through the use of evidence-based, flexible intervention.
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C (she/her) is the Clinical Director of CBT of Central & South Florida and is the co-founder of CBT Training & Consultation. Additionally, she is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Consultant (CEDS-C) and became a Certified Therapist & Trainer of the Unified Protocol in 2014. She is the co-author of the Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders & Comorbidity: An Adaptation of the Unified Protocol, and was responsible for the training and ongoing supervision of hundreds of clinicians implementing this approach in community-based intensive treatment programs. Dr. Smith serves on the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) Curriculum Committee and is the Education Chair of iaedp's South Florida Chapter. Additionally, she is the Education and Professional Development Chair of the CBT Alliance of Florida. Dr. Smith has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals focused on the development, adaptation, and dissemination and implementation of evidence-based, transdiagnostic treatments and has presented and lectured at professional and academic conferences nationally and internationally.
Rebecca Berman, LCSW, MLSP, CEDS-C (she/her) is the Clinical Director of Anxiety Institute in McLean, VA, with over 20 years of experience treating adolescents and adults with eating disorders, anxiety, and trauma. She holds dual master’s degrees from Bryn Mawr College and is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist & Approved Consultant (CEDS-C) and a Certified Therapist and Trainer with the Unified Protocol Institute. She co-authored the Unified Treatment for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity, An Adaptation of the Unified Protocol published by Oxford University Press in 2021. Rebecca regularly presents at professional conferences and provides supervision and consultation to clinicians across disciplines. She is passionate about adapting treatment approaches to meet the needs of neurodiverse individuals.
Fidelity and flexibility
Translating the Unified Protocol into a cohesive, skills-based group format
Who is this for?
This training is for new and seasoned clinicians seeking to enhance their transdiagnostic treatment skills and deepen their use of the UP in a collaborative group context.
3 hours of video content
This on-demand educational offering includes the full recording from this workshop held live on Zoom.
3 CEs available through APA¹
This workshop is eligible to receive up to 3 CE credits for practicing clinicians. Credits are awarded only for verified attendance and a passing quiz score of 75% or above.
Registration options
Save up to 33%
Basic
$99/ quarter
Includes access to:
- Clinical Demonstration Video Library
- Digital access to the UP Therapist Guide and Workbook
- Audio learning modules (learn on the go)
- 50% off all workshop recordings (CE Eligible)
- Exclusive access to new tools + resources
Premium
$149/ quarter
Includes everything in Basic, plus:
- Access to all past + future workshop recordings
- 25% discount on all live workshops (CE eligible)
- Monthly office hours + Q&A with UPI instructors
Enterprise
Custom
Includes everything in Premium, plus:
- Priority support and access to new tools & resources
- Up to 100 sub-accounts for employees or org. members
- Discounts to live workshops for sub-account holders
- Tailored pricing based on team size
- Premium access for your full staff
...Or buy this workshop only
Access to on-demand workshop recording, eligible for 3 CEs with passing quiz score
$75/one time
Basic
$299/ year
Includes access to:
- Clinical Demonstration Video Library
- Digital access to the UP Therapist Guide and Workbook
- Audio learning modules (learn on the go)
- 50% off all workshop recordings (CE Eligible)
- Exclusive access to new tools + resources
Premium
$399/ year
Includes everything in Basic, plus:
- Access to all past + future workshop recordings
- 25% discount on all live workshops (CE eligible)
- Monthly office hours + Q&A with UPI instructors
Enterprise
Custom
Includes everything in Premium, plus:
- Priority support and access to new tools & resources
- Up to 100 sub-accounts for employees or org. members
- Discounts to live workshops for sub-account holders
- Tailored pricing based on team size
- Premium access for your full staff
CE Info and other fine print
¹Offers 3 APA CE credits for US-licensed psychologists
The Unified Protocol Institute (UPI) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. UPI maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Offers 3 APA CE credits for US social workers
ASWB ACE credit is currently not offered for this course. However, many social work licensing boards accept CE hours issued by APA-approved sponsors; acceptance is determined by each state board and you can confirm with your state licensing board in advance of registration. If you are unsure how to do so or have any questions, please reach out to us and we can assist: hello@unifiedprotocol.com.
UPI is an APA-approved CE sponsor. However, some states have additional requirements regarding APA sponsorship. The Unified Protocol Institute is not approved by the New York State Education Department as a CE provider. Please check with your state licensing board to confirm whether APA-sponsored CEs will meet your licensure requirements.
Please contact us at hello@unifiedprotocol.com
References
Burton, C., Allan, E., Eckhardt, S., Le Grange, D., Ehrenreich-May, J., Singh, M., & Dimitropoulos, G.(2021). Case presentations combining family-based treatment with the unified protocols for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders in children and adolescents for comorbid avoidant restrictive food intake disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30(4), 280.
Hollander, K., Milgram, L., & Ehrenreich-May, J. (2025). Application of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents to Autistic Youth: A Case Study. Clinical Case Studies, 15346501261417689.
Kuroda, M., Kawakubo, Y., Kamio, Y., Yamasue, H., Kono, T., Nonaka, M., … & Kuwabara, H. (2022). Preliminary efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy on emotion regulation in adults with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot randomized waitlist-controlled study. Plos one, 17(11), e0277398.
Mazefsky, C. A., Bradley, M., Duman, K., Beck, K. B., Conner, C. M., Powell, N., … & White, S. W. (2026). Study protocol for a comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial comparing the emotion awareness and skills enhancement program to the unified protocol in autistic youth and young adults with emotion dysregulation. BMC psychology, 14(1), 187.
Spain, D., & Happé, F. (2020). How to optimise cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD): A Delphi study. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 38(2), 184-208.
There is no known commercial support for this program.